Accident Overview
A private pilot with 3,729 hours of flight time was conducting a flight in a single-engine airplane. During the landing phase, the pilot did not follow the airplane's Normal Procedures-Before Landing checklist. This omission led to a gear-up landing, where the landing gear was not extended before touchdown.
Post-Accident Examination
After the accident, maintenance personnel responded to the scene and assisted in recovering the airplane. During their inspection, they observed that the landing gear handle was in the "up" position. When battery power was applied to attempt to lower the landing gear, the landing gear warning horn activated, confirming that the gear had not been deployed.
Probable Cause
The investigation determined that the accident resulted from the pilot's failure to follow the airplane's Normal Procedures-Before Landing checklist, which resulted in a gear-up landing. No other factors were cited.
Conclusion
The incident underscores the critical importance of adhering to standard operating procedures, particularly checklists, during all phases of flight. The gear-up landing occurred solely due to the pilot's omission of the before-landing checklist item.